Misfit

CHAPTER VIII

03.05.1999

Hermione woke up the next day with emotions, questions and images flooding her brain from the previous day. Ignoring all that, pushing it to the back of her mind, she got out of bed and ready for a new day. Hermione had made a decision last night and she would not back down from it. She had to change a few things in her life and if it meant pretending that she was okay she would do it. She had to make them believe that she wasn't damaged. She was just fine. A small part of herself was hoping that maybe, if she pretended enough, she might just believe it herself.

Hermione checked her appearance one last time in the mirror, before walking downstairs and into the twins shop. She couldn't see Fred or George, and it was too early for customers, so she decided to wander around the shop by herself to get familiar with all the products. She had just finished her round, when she saw George walking in from the back.

"Hermione", he yelped upon seeing her.

"Don't do that. You scared me", George exclaims putting the box down on one of the counters.

"Is everything okay?" He looked concerned and a little worried.

"Yes, everything is good. I hope I'm not too late?"

"Too late for what?", comes from Fred, who walked out of the same door George just did moments ago, looking rather confused as to what was going on.

"My first day", Hermione says. Never had she seen those boys so clueless.

"You're what?"

"After your little story to Harry yesterday I thought I might as well start working here properly, not just as a cover up story. You need people to work here and I need something to make people get off my back."

They still just stared at her, as if she was from a different planet.

"Unless you don't want my help?", she asks slowly, already knowing the answer.

"No! Godric, I mean yes, we do want your help", Fred says fast.

"We do, don't we Freddy", says a rather bemused George.

"Ok, so what can I do?", Hermione asks, trying to smile a real smile.

"Always the eager one", George says smiling and directing her towards the back, showing her the potion book and giving her instructions on what to make.

"I know you like making potions, so you can start with that, while Freddy and me will handle the shop out the front."

"Ok. Thank you George", she says, feeling slightly overwhelmed by everything. It had been a while since she had last made a potion, but she is confident that she will live up to the expectations that the twins seem to have. Before she could change her mind, she set herself to work on the potions described in the books and a little while later, she started to lose herself in the work like she did a few years ago, when she was still in school and eager to learn everything and be the best at everything. She didn't notice that it was way past lunchtime, but at one point George came through the back, startling her.

"Hermione! You look like you have not moved since this morning!", he exclaims loudly.

"Oh, hi there George. I have been so busy making those potions you told me I forgot the time. There is two more that need to be done and then I can move onto the next task" she explains to him, while stirring her potion.

"Why don't you take a little break and have something to eat while I finish these up?", he asks her, not mention that he thinks she is too thin and her clothes hang too loose around her body - he does not want to sound like his mother after all.

"I am not hungry. It's all good, I can finish these up and then come back out front if you want me to", she replies with a calm voice, still hunched over her cauldron.

"If you want to you can help make the sweets with Fred once you finished the last potion. He can show you how to make them, so next time you can do them on your own", George suggests to her, knowing that she won't take a break anyway, seeing as she is too stubborn for her own good.

"That sounds like a good idea, George, thank you", she tells him, looking at him shortly before continuing her potion.

George can only shake his head, before walking back out, telling Fred that Hermione is almost finished and that he can show her how to make the sweets. Fred visibly gulps, thanking his brother and walking in the back slowly.

"Just try not to make any stupid remarks", George calls after him.

"Hermione, George told me you were almost finished with the potions?"

"Oh yes, I am. If you like you can start with the sweets and I will join you as soon as I am finished. I have put the finished potions over there in alphabetical order - I didn't know what system you use to organise them!", she tells him.

"We don't have a system", he blurts out.

"Well, it is always better to have a system as to not mix them up. I will be more than happy to install a system for the potions. I also put them under a static charm, so they won't change their texture or current state."

"Why have I not thought of that?", he asks out loud.

"I don't know, but I can already tell, that it is a good thing, that I started working here!", she tells him looking around the almost chaos.

"Hey! It's not chaos to us! I know where everything is, George knows where everything is..."

"Yeah, but I don't know where everything is..."

"Good point...", he says, trailing off and looking around. Of course she would have trouble finding everything she needs.

"Okay. You are officially allowed to change and organise everything however you please", he tells her with a steady nodding of his head and a small smile.

"I would have done so anyways, but I am relieved you agree", she says, while adding some dragon liver that she assumes Charlie sent over from a dead or dying dragon. That is at least she hopes where it came from.

"So we will be making Nosebleed Nougat and Puking Pastilles today as it seems they are selling really well with the students this year", Fred says, making a thoughtful face, but smirking within seconds. Causing mischief has always been his specialty and knowing that his products are being used to cause just that, makes him incredibly proud and happy at the same time. It's a quality Hermione always admired the twins for. They didn't do it for the money or the fame. They simply did it for the love of causing havoc and to make others as happy as they are. They have an ability to turn the smallest things into something funny and charming a smile on every face. But Hermione would probably never say it out loud.

"I am surprised that you showed up this morning to work with us", Fred simply states, earning him a confused look from Hermione.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you never liked our products. You have always been against the use of them in school, yet here you are helping to make more of them so that more kids can rack havoc!"

"I have always liked your products. I think it is extraordinary magic. Just because I don't support the use of them during class, doesn't mean I don't support the talent and magic behind it", she states very calm, looking at him directly. Fred can do nothing but gape like a fish upon hearing that the brightest witch of her age thinks his magic is extraordinary. He might just have won the lottery!

"Well in that case, young one, come closer and learn all about the magic behind this mischief", he says with a big smile on his face, that could probably light up the entire room if it wasn't already lit.

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Ok so it has been so long, but I felt like writing again? 

Hope you guys like this...if someone is still reading this 😂